Welcome to our new site!
About Us
Our Philosophy
The Creator has given us so many gifts to honor and steward. Plants have so much to teach us, we only have to observe and listen. As the great botanist, agricultural scientist, and inventor George Washington Carver remarked, “Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also – if you love them enough.” He exemplified honoring tradition while embracing science and innovation.
Good Faith Grown ™
Ancient Paths honors herbal traditions by working with farms, co-packing facilities, and contract manufactures to create herbal products with modernized, yet time-tested, traditional processes. We focus on sourcing herbs from ethical wildcrafters and small farms with sustainable practices. We prioritize herbs grown in Turtle Island (North America.) Some herbs are organically-grown using regenerative farming techniques while others are grown without the use of pesticides or additives by growers who are unable/unwilling to pay for organic certification. All herbs are lab tested and each has a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). In addition, all co-packers are FSMA/GMP compliant and FDA/USDA registered food processing facilities. Each contract manufacturer practices corporate social responsibility by giving back to the community.
Humble Beginnings
Ancient Paths began as a combination of an herbal apothecary with a bio-regional emphasis and a retailer of herbs and vintage jewelry. The shift came in 2024, when some of Ancient Paths' apothecary products became available in online marketplaces. We will expand our offerings over the next few years. Despite our online presence, we continue to set up vendor tables in central Texas and offer free and/or low-cost herbal workshops for the community.
The Story Behind the Turtle...
In many indigenous communities across North America, the turtle holds profound cultural and spiritual significance, symbolizing creation, resilience, and balance. The term "Turtle Island" is a widely used name for North America in many indigenous oral traditions, reflecting the belief that the continent rests on the back of a giant turtle (hence its shape.) Representing the interconnectedness of all life and the need to live in harmony with nature, the turtle also serves as a powerful reminder of the responsibility to protect and sustain the land for future generations.
Honoring Tradition
Ancient Paths honors the traditional wisdom that has been passed down. What is "Folk Herbalism?" It is a system of medicinal beliefs, knowledge, and practices within a cultural or ethnic group. These techniques have been used for centuries and amassed large amounts of anecdotal evidence that support their effectiveness and safety. Some folk medicine systems have been passed down through writing (such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine), while others have continued through oral tradition (such as Native American herbal practices and Southern Folk Medicine.)
